This is one of those frequently asked questions that
regularly gets an airing either on Christian radio or in church circles. Another question
asked: "Is freemasonry Christian?"
I must answer an emphatic no to both questions, and also ponder the wider question,
why would any Bible believing Christian seek membership into the freemasons or any
secret society for that matter?

The former archbishop
of Canterbury, Geoffrey Fisher was a practicing freemason all his life, and he wasn't
the only one!

The Church of England
has long had the problem of how to deal with freemasons in their 'broad church.' The
former archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, whose father was in the craft, used
to block the promotion of practicing masonic bishops, before he was promoted to Canterbury.

(Whilst Williams never confessed to being a mason
himself, he is a proud member of the druids, a group that historically sacrificed
children to appease their gods.)

(This is the infamous masonic chequered
floor,

which can be seen on British police
force uniforms,

and inside Number 10 Downing Street,

not to mention in numerous other
government institutions)

Other
well known "Christian" freemasons have been Joseph Smith and Brigham Young of the
Latter-day Saints (the Mormons); Charles Taze Russell of the Jehovah's Witnesses and
the husband of Ellen White of the Seventh Day Adventists.

In
Martin Short's book Inside the Brotherhood, he shares the following account
of one Anglican Primate who wasn't happy to learn of a masonic burial in an Anglican
church:

"......I
found that the words 'Jesus Christ' were omitted from the prayers and the word 'Architect'
substituted. Worse still, the cross was to be removed from the altar....I thought
that in this case it would be better for the service to take place in a Masonic temple....this
line I took stirred up a hornets' nest. I was warned that I had offended important
benefactors and that the diocese would suffer financially. It might have done so"
(p. 76, 77.)

In recent years the freemasons have tried hard to
reinvent their infamous and mysterious image, by allowing members of the press and
public to come and visit their lodges, but certainly not whilst their
ghastly rituals are in operation.

One recent masonic newsletter that was sent to me,
had the following quote, about the need for more 'good news stories' to be made known
to the local press:

"...Now that we are achieving good coverage in the
local press we are looking to other means of spreading the good news about freemasonry."

The same publication boasted of the numerous good
works that they do in their local areas, with the sum raised for charity, for the
year 2004/2005, being £200,037.

It sadly appears that they are trusting in their
own good works to save them from their sins and not in Jesus Christ's finished work
on the cross (Rom. 10:1-4.)

At this stage I must state categorically that to
the best of my knowledge there have never been any practicing freemasons in my immediate
family. How could there be? As a fifth generation, Roman Catholic, had not Rome forbidden
membership to freemasonry? At least officially and in the open they had, and by no
less than nine papal bulls, issued by fuming popes!

All this was to change covertly and successfully,
however, after Vatican
II, when I suspect the ecumenical plot allowed the freemasons to join the
fold. Or maybe the freemasons had always been in the Curia. One should remember the
notorious Vatican P2 lodge, which consisted of many high-ranking cardinals and politicians.
But if you're still not sure of the Catholic view on this, just check their 1994 catechism,
where you'll find no mention of freemasonry and why a Catholic cannot seek membership
of this anti-Christ movement.

Today I don't think they - the hierarchy - could
care less what you wish to do with your spare time. Except promote the social gospel
and seek a greater 'unity' amongst the world's religions. Certainly they wouldn't
encourage a thoroughBible
study or examine how sinners are actually saved by trusting in the precious blood
of Christ alone, not by one's good works and useless rituals.

So back to my main question of should a Christian
be a freemason? I must answer my own question with a question: why would he want to
(and yes, I know some lodges allow women), like the Order of the Eastern Star, but
they remain very much male driven.

Incidentally the Knights of DeMolay are a related
organization that a young Bill Clinton was attracted to join, when he was just 15-years-old.
It should also be remembered that Presidents Bush Snr. and Bush Jrn. were very much
involved with the promoting of the infamous Skull and Bones secret society.

(It is pretty much known how the world's political,
economic and entertainment leaders are either protestant
freemasons or Jesuit trained, by the Catholic church.)

According to Freemasonry Today, young Bill
enlisted in DeMolay at Hot Springs in Arkansas in 1961. He later stated: "I enjoyed
learning all parts of the ritual. I grew up in a family with no money and no political
influence. I had a lot of breaks; a lot of people helped me. DeMolay I think helps
that."

He would later become a Rhodes scholar. Cecil Rhodes
was himself a highly respected millionaire, freemason.

The writer George L. Hunt states that: "Secretism
is not only non-Christian, but that it is anti-Christian."

Heavy stuff you may say but are they religious, these
freemasons? They most certainly are! Just listen to what Albert Pike, 'Grand Commander'
and 'Sovereign Pontiff' (recognise that word, 'pontiff') of universal freemasonry
had to say:

"Every Masonic lodge is a temple of religion."

Or Albert Mackey, another highly respected freemason,
who wrote The Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry:

"Masonry is an eminently religious institution. The
truth is masonry is undoubtedly a religious institution."

And what about a British Knight of the Realm, Sir
John Cockburn, past deputy 'Grand Master' of South Australia, who said:

"Masonry is a form of worship in which all religions
can unite." (And, boy aren't they just promoting that today?)

According to the author Jim Shaw, himself a previous
33rd degree freemason, who was wonderfully saved out of the darkness of freemasonry
and brought into the glorious light of Jesus Christ, he offered the following:

"Masonry, contrary to popular belief, is not based
upon the Bible. Masonry is actually based on the Kabala, a medieval book of magic
and mysticism."

This accurate statement is also reinforced by no
less than Albert Pike. He said:

"Masonry is a search after light. That search leads
us directly back, as you see, to the Kabala."

Now if there is one thing that we at this ministry
have always been clear about is that people must get out of organized religion! Have
nothing to do with it. It cannot save you! No two ways about it!

I mean why would you wish to be mixed up with these
people anyway. And one should also be mindful to the fact that freemasonry excludes
the name of the Lord Jesus from prayer.

The precious name of Jesus is excluded from every
passage of Scripture that is read in the lodge.

For example, this verse is how it should read, but
freemasons omit the following underlined words:

"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh
disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us" (2 Thess. 3:6.)

The same 'method' is also used to mangle 2 Thess.
3:11,12:

"For we hear that there are some which walk among
you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we
command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they
work, and eat their own bread."

This is not genuine Christian behaviour, neither
should it ever be accepted as such.

"When Masonry mutilates the Holy Scripture by deliberately
omitting the name of the Messiah it is no longer the God-breathed, inspired word of
God. It is religion without Jesus Christ as Saviour and Redeemer."

This statement by the late Jim McCormick, himself
an astute observer and writer of numerous articles on freemasonry over the years,
is confirmed by Albert Pike in his lexicon of freemasonry. He writes:

"A Christian Mason is not permitted to introduce
his own peculiar opinions with regard to Christ's mediatorial office into the lodge."

It is interesting that in The Builder, a
well-known masonic book, there is no entry in the index for 'Jesus' or 'Christ.'

In Coils Masonic
Encyclopaedia no such entry is listed either. Neither does Holman's Masonic
Bible include an entry for either 'Jesus' or 'Christ.'

So I have to ask, does this not show the scornful
attitude of any lodge toward Christianity? All prayers in the lodge it seems are Christ-less.
How sad and how worthless.

So where does that leave the professing Christian
as regards to worship in the lodge? Assuming he has got this far. Well he can use
the volume of the Sacred Law (VSL), Vedas, or the Gita. He can choose Zoroaster or
the angelus for inspiration, if he so wishes. He can worship in any lodge behind closed
doors in Trafalgar Sq., off Broadway or near the Neverland Ranch (if he should wish
to.)

Yet did not Jesus proclaim:

"For there
is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself
seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world" (John
7:4.)

And He also said the following:

"I am
the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John
14:6.)

So what is going on here, I have to ask. And don't
be taken in by the 'all seeing eye,' familiar in the lodge, and in nearly every music
pop video too, not to mention on the back of a dollar bill. It is not the eye of God
as freemasons ignorantly claim but rather:

"The all seeing eye (that) was the symbol of deity
in the ancient mysteries of Egypt."

Secretism, it seems, announces another route, another
door, independent of the Lord
Jesus Christ. This I will not accept! Christ is not on par with Mohammed,
Buddha, Confucius, Joseph
Smith, Sitting Bull or any Pope.

Freemasonry also states that:

"If you deserve and purchase your path to heaven
you are being saved by your own works, not God's works."

This is from the freemasons Pocket Companion.
The true Bible believing Christian knows that good works can never save you. Only
real faith in the precious blood of Jesus Christ can achieve this. Nothing else. And
if it did, what was the point of the crucifixion?

"He that is of God heareth God's words" (John 8:47.)

So why are certain young and ambitious men attracted
into becoming freemasons?

In the masonic catechism the novice is asked:

"Why did you become a freemason?" "To obtain a knowledge
of the secrets and mysteries preserved amongst the brethren."

In the world of business it can offer promotion and
in bringing in new business to the firm if a man is approached to join the lodge.
This is very much a sweetener as well as the colourful regalia. And don't all men
love a uniform and the whiff of secret societies. (For the purpose of this article
and for the lack of space, I have excluded the Illuminati,
the Trilateral group, the Bilderbergers and other assorted anti-Christian institutions.)

It must also be stated how many protestant ministers,
elders, deacons, and Sunday school teachers, have all requested a place in the lodge.
And shame on them!

Freemasonry rites are idolatry. This is clearly witnessed
in the initiation oaths, especially in the first three degrees. Even God is re-named
'The Great Architect of the Universe!' Masons will not find Him in 'the grand lodge'
in the sky! Rather they will meet the One true God at the Great White Throne Judgment
if they do not renounce this movement and receive Christ as their only hope of salvation
(Rev. 20:11-14.)

The apostle Paul was correct when he warned those
seeking the truth not to be yoked with those who practice such acts (2 Cor. 6:14-18.)

And did not Jesus warn:

"Swear not at all" (Matt. 5:34.)

In the 19th degree of the 33 degrees of freemasonry,
the candidate is marked with balm with the words said over him:

"Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek."

The
Bible believer must see this as blasphemy and unacceptable, not to mention that
this office is non-transferable. It only belongs to Jesus Christ.

Incidentally in the same degree (19th) the candidate
is presented with a sash embroidered with the 12 signs of the zodiac. The Bible clearly
forbids this divination (Deut.18:10.) Again the true Bible believer should and must
reject such a practice if it is offered to him.

And what about secret hand grips and mumbled oaths
muttered in the dark. The apostle James gave the following warning on this:

(Someone's father, son or brother, as he is ignorantly
initiated in to freemasonry)

However for the mostly naïve and ignorant apprentice,
he is starkly warned that his throat will be cut, his tongue and heart will be torn
out and his discarded body will be marked and disembowelled, if any lodge secrets
are revealed to non-masons!

So why would any sane person in his right frame of
mind want to go along with this malarkey? One more thing a Christian should look out
for are masonic rings, cuff links and tie clips, as well as fleece-lined aprons and
silk festooned ties, crystal glass or pewter decanters.

So my final advice to any ignorant Christian who
may have joined freemasonry is to get out of it. Burn the regalia, don't wait. And
if you've got children or grandchildren they'll love to assist you in stoking that
fire in the garden. Perhaps your wife will also be very glad of your decision.

Remember what the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Cor. 6:17:

"Come ye out from among them," he later qualifies
this in Ephesians 5:11:

"Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of
darkness but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things
which are done of them in secret."